PDA

View Full Version : New Here - Wish I had Found you 15 years ago



ImatypeA
09-10-2007, 12:24 PM
If only I had been able to access this type of conversation and sharing 15 years ago when I first started having anxiety attacks. Of course, then, I thought I was just dieing of some awful disease.

I couldn't understand what was causing all the twitching, fatigue, weird vision problems, slowed speech, etc...I was convinced there was no stress in my life, even as my body was telling me differently.

Now, after 7 years of counseling and 5 steady years of medication, I understand what is happening when I start fretting about physical symptoms in my body - it means there is something stressful going on in my life I am trying really hard to ignore. And even though I know this and try to be aware of how I am feeling, I still get surprised.

I am suffering through my first anxiety attack in 5 years and I am SO frustrated with myself. I am convinced I am dieing YET AGAIN. I thought I had been doing well with all the change in my life over the last year: left my job to get married and move to a new state leaving my sister and mother, renovated a house, and then dealt with the unexpected death of my mother. I thought I was handling things okay. Clearly I have not really been dealing with any of it, as I am convinced that this constant twitch in my jaw is Parkinson's.

Why is it that we manage to find new things to worry about? I am so sick of this.

j Hall
09-13-2007, 06:43 AM
Hi, i have had anxiety attacks in a bad way. These led to agrophobia,
I wouldn't leave the house unless i had someone with me. To venture out the house, i would just go to the end of the street to post a letter, and then come back again. The panick attacks would come over me like a wave, my heart beating fast, i would get very breathless and feel that dizzy i thought i was going to faint. However today i am much improved
Today i have been in a post office stood in a cue, I have been in a supermarket and bought items, even though i panick i now have a greater understanding of why it happens. I would definately recommend
The anxiety & phobia workbook - by edmund J. Bourne. It has helped me understand why it happens and what to do when it happens. I feel really happy today, as i haven't bee in a supermarket on my own for the
past two years :D

ImatypeA
09-13-2007, 09:17 AM
That is really great. You should be very proud of yourself. It takes so much will and courage. I don't think most people realize that. Keep going....

abcdefghix
09-15-2007, 11:37 PM
ImatypeA,

I totally understand how you are feeling.

If you take anyone's advice here, please take this advice:

Go to the bookstore or library and look for a book called:

"Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life" by Steven Hayes.

PLEASE take a look at this book... I promise you that it will change your life.

The author is a professor of psychology at the University of Nevada. He suffered from anxiety and panic disorder for 15 years before developing a revolutionary new therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

In all of the reliable scientific studies that have been done on anxiety to date, this form of therapy has shown the best results.

Best wishes,
Brian